Osteospermum plant named ‘Balostlueye’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Balostlueye’, characterized by its medium yellow and dark purple colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Variety denomination: ‘Balostlueye’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balostlueye’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in SantaPaula, Calif. during July 2011. The objective of the breeding programwas the development of Osteospermum cultivars that are freely floweringwith unique flower coloration and a freely branching, upright-moundedgrowth habit.

The new Osteospermum cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Osteospermumecklonis breeding selection coded 49249-5, not patented, characterizedby its dark yellow and lavender colored inflorescences, mediumgreen-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growthhabit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietaryOsteospermum ecklonis breeding selection coded 49305-4, not patented,characterized by its light yellow-colored inflorescences that age to afrosted purple, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous,mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the above statedcross-pollination during April 2012 in a controlled environment in SantaPaula, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceApril 2012 in Santa Paula, Calif., Arroyo Grande Calif., and WestChicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true totype with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixedand retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balostlueye’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant:

-   -   1. Medium yellow and dark purple colored inflorescences;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having larger inflorescences and wider ray florets and fromplants of the male parent primarily in inflorescences color and inhaving longer peduncles.

Of the many commercially available Osteospermum cultivars, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new cultivar is Side Show Golden Yellow‘Saksisgolye’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,602. However, in comparison,plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Saksisgolye’ in atleast the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a ray floret color different        from plants of ‘Saksisgolye’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a disc floret color different        from plants of ‘Saksisgolye’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have larger diameter        inflorescences than plants of ‘Saksisgolye’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balostlueye’. Theplants were grown in 4-inch pots for 11 weeks in a greenhouse in WestChicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balostlueye’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Balostlueye’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in January 2014 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 11 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch attransplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 66°F. to 70° F. (19° C. to 21° C.) during the day and approximately 58° F.to 62° F. (14° C. to 17° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levelsof 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during theday. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplants.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar    Balostlueye.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis breeding            selection coded 49249-5, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis breeding            selection coded 49305-4, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 12 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 28 to 32            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 13 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            upright-mounded.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 16.5 cm. Width: Approximately 19.5 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 3.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length to base of peduncle:            Approximately 7.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length            of central internode: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture:            Glabrous. Color of young and mature stems: 144B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 7. Fragrance: Pungent. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem becoming an obtuse angle            with age. Shape: Spatulate. Margin: Widely dentate. Apex:            Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of            mature leaf: Approximately 5.0 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Sparsely pubescent. Color of upper surface of young and            mature foliage: 137A with venation of 145B or            indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of young and            mature foliage: 138A with venation of 145A or            indistinguishable.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture: Mixture of glandular and            non-glandular pubescence. Gland color: Colorless. Color:            145A.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balostlueye’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 8 to 10 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.            Shape: Round. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement: Terminal,            held above the foliage, arising from leaf axils. Disc and            ray florets develop acropetally on a capitulum. Fragrance:            Faint. Quantity per plant: Approximately 3. Diameter:            Approximately 6.8 cm. Depth: Approximately 1.6 cm.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 10.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Texture: Glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color:            144A.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 4 to 6 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 1.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately            1.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.1 cm. Color: 154B.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 26.            Arrangement: Imbricate in a single whorl. Aspect: Initially            at acute angle to disc, becoming perpendicular at maturity            and downward turning as senesce. Shape: Oblanceolate.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate with three tips. Base:            Attenuate. Length: Approximately 3.3 cm. Width:            Approximately 8.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.            Texture of lower surface: Glabrous with a densely pubescent            base. Color of upper surface when first open: 4B with base            of N79B. Color of lower surface when first and fully open:            4D with overlay of 177B and base of N79C. Color of upper            surface when fully open: 4B with base of N79C.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 90.            Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Shape:            Tubular. Margin: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base:            Attenuate, fused. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter at            apex: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous with a sparsely pubescent outer            surface. Color when fully open: NN155A with tips of N92A and            base of 145D.        -   Disc.—Diameter: Approximately 1.4 cm. Depth: Approximately            6.0 mm.        -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Color: 145D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 20.            Arrangement: In a single whorl. Shape: Linear to lanceolate.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length:            Approximately 9.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture            of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower or            outer surface: Mixture of glandular and non-glandular            pubescence. Gland color: Colorless. Color of upper or inner            surface: 138B. Color of lower or outer surface: 138A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret, fused around the style.            Stamen length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Anther shape: Linear.            Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: N186A.            Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 21A. Gynoecium:            Present on ray and disc florets. Pistil quantity: 1 per            floret. Pistil length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Stigma shape:            Rounded. Stigma length: Less than 1 mm. Stigma color: N92A.            Style length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Style color: NN155D.            Ovary length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: 145D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Osteospermum has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plantnamed ‘Balostlueye’, substantially as herein shown and described.